Ring star Jake Ball has battled his way to a World Combat Games silver medal in Russia.

The Guildford City ABC light-heavyweight, one of five boxers in action for Britain in St Petersburg over the past week, lost narrowly on points to host nation hope Dmitry Bivol in Thursday’s 81kg final at the Yubileiny Sports Complex.

Ball, a member of GB Boxing’s 2016 Olympics Podium Potential Squad, was edged out 10-9 on all three judges’ cards in each of the three rounds.

The City ace, 21 next month, had previously seen off Elvin Gambarov of Azerbaijan in his semi-final bout, knocking his opponent down twice in the opening round and again in the second on his way to a unanimous 3-0 points verdict.